Dark Souls Remastered Switch Review

When I started this review some months ago, I was about 2/3 into Dark Souls Remastered. I have now found myself among the alumni of Nintendo Switch owners by finishing it.

Demon Souls was the first in the series, and the origins of the Souls-like, but my first kiss was From Software’s Dark Souls. I heard a few things through the rumour mill that it was a bloody hard game, and it was. Luckily, I expected to die a lot, having read the reviews, so it wasn’t a shock that I died. A lot. But only in the game and not on the inside.

See, I had no expectations from Dark Souls other than dying. I was determined to see it through, however. Sure, it was frustrating, but that was the fun of it. In all honesty, I find the NES Online games harder than the Dark Souls model. For something similarly difficult but where death matters, there’s Cuphead.

Dark Souls Remastered Review

Dark Souls Remastered is an ambiguous game at times. No one holds your hand and shows you what to do really. Still, there is a little feature where other players can help you out by leaving you messages about potential loot or backstabbing an enemy – I don’t know, like saying their hair looks good and behind their back say it looks like a mess – or you can bring another player into the game – usually to fight a boss – further in the game.

That’s what it’s all about – a sadistic Groundhog Day – in limbo – fighting the undead, golems, demons, drakes, puberty… whatever is thrown at you. The goal is to become the Lord of the Dance and kill everything so there’s nothing left apart from you and your dog. Well, there is no dog, but if there were one, you’d probably have to kill it. And it would most likely be gigantic and wield a bastard sword.

Unless you’re a real-life ninja* and can effortlessly speed run through this, you will most likely have to level up your character. To level up your character, head to a bonfire (think of it as a checkpoint) and there will be some options such as rest, level up, attune your spells and so on. Stats can be invested in health and stamina.

Tidied up with some textures

There are a couple of times you can summon NPCs. Sometimes they are a good distraction so you can sneak up behind the boss and give a good hiding, or there are times when they can cause some real damage, like a spirit called Paladin Leeroy. That’s right, Leeroy Jenkins is in this game.

Dark Souls Remastered doesn’t have fancy cutscenes or unlockable trophies as it’s for the Switch. But defeating a boss who so clearly can one-hit you is an achievement in itself. There is replay value with a loop of new games – NG+, NG++ and so on. The baddies get tougher and the levelling up more elusive, but for some reason, it’s seductive enough to come back to for a thrill, despite it pushing us off mountains, hitting us with an axe or simply not being very friendly.

Arguably, Dark Souls Remastered on the Switch is the best. Sure, textures aren’t going to be up there with the PS4 and Xbox One, but the Dark Souls series was never about graphics or performance. As long as you can roll, that’s all that matters. Also, if you’ve ever seen those mental speed run experts play, they often do it with no clothes on – in the game, too.

Dark Souls Remastered Review Summary

My verdict? Get it. Again and again. I have this for the PS3 and finished it multiple times, but still bought it on the Switch, finding it to be the best version (it’s portable!). In true Dark Souls Remastered fashion, I’ve written this again and again and most likely, will do so again.